Cheatham County approves budget amendments, health‑department ARP grant and joins statewide opioid plan

Cheatham County commissioners approved a package of budget and capital adjustments, accepted a state health‑department grant for local clinic improvements and adopted a resolution to participate in a unified Tennessee plan for opioid‑abatement funds during the county's March 20 regular session in Ashland City.

The meeting opened at 6:01 p.m. with Chairman Tim Williamson and County Clerk Abby Short calling the roll and confirming a 12‑member quorum. The body approved the agenda as amended and the minutes from its Feb. 27 session.

Director of Accounts Sandrine Batts presented Budget Committee recommendations. The commission approved several County General Fund amendments to support sheriff and jail line items, transfers from reserved accounts for equipment, and the use of a Tennessee Corrections Institute training grant to purchase jail training equipment. Commissioners also approved a General Capital Projects Fund amendment to accept contributed funds for an animal‑control kennel restoration and authorized declaring a 2001 Jeep Cherokee surplus for sale on GovDeals. The roll‑call votes for the budget items were recorded in the meeting minutes (Resolution 4, Resolution 5, Resolution 6).

Under mayoral items, County Mayor Kerry McCarver presented a package of approvals. The body authorized the mayor to sign a grant contract with the Tennessee Department of Health for Local Health Department capital investment funded by State Fiscal Recovery Funds; the contract lists a $383,200 maximum federal award for Cheatham County and a total project budget of $510,900 including $127,700 in local participation. The grant description in the packet cites front‑office renovations, clinic room upgrades, a new electronic sign, roofing repairs and related facility improvements. The authorization passed by roll call (Resolution 7(A)).

Commissioners also approved the contract terms to retain Martha Brooke Perry as the county delinquent‑tax attorney for the term beginning April 1, 2023, at a compensation rate of 10% of base collections; they confirmed the mayor's reappointment of Edwin Hogan to the Solid Waste Regional Planning Board (term beginning March 1, 2023), and authorized the county’s signature on a civil‑engineering contract with CEC Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. for solid‑waste work (Resolutions 7(B)–7(D)).

In a separate resolution (Resolution 7[E]), the commission voted to join a statewide plan for allocating certain opioid‑settlement proceeds. The resolution authorizes the county mayor to sign amendments to the Tennessee State‑Subdivision Opioid Abatement Agreement and related settlement documents. The packet and attached summary explain that the amendments would apply a unified allocation framework to new manufacturer and pharmacy chain settlements and streamline accounting for small municipalities. The resolution passed by roll call.

The county attorney presented an interlocal agreement with the Town of Pegram to provide additional law‑enforcement coverage by the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office; the agreement and associated invoice procedures were approved by roll call (Resolution 8).

Capital improvements included approval of security cameras at Emergency Management Agency buildings and the installation of swipe‑access locks at the County Clerk and Trustee offices at Sycamore Square; both measures passed on roll call (Resolutions 10 and 11). The commission also approved a consent calendar of notary appointments and adopted two recognitions, including one acknowledging the work of the Quintenn Clark Foundation and local emergency‑services volunteers (Resolutions 12 and 13). The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. (Resolution 14).

Votes at a glance (recorded outcomes in meeting minutes): - Resolution 4 — County General Fund budget amendments: approved by roll call (11 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 1 Abstain documented for the committee vote; full roll call in packet shows 11 Yes, 0 No, 1 Abstain on the final record cited). - Resolution 5 — General Capital Projects Fund amendment: approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 6 — Surplus vehicle (2001 Jeep Cherokee) declared for sale: approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 7(A) — Authorize mayor's signature on State of Tennessee Department of Health grant contract: approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 7(B) — Approve delinquent tax attorney compensation and contract: approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 7(C) — Confirm reappointment to Solid Waste Regional Planning Board: approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 7(D) — Authorize mayor's signature on CEC contract (solid waste): approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 7(E) — Approve joining amended Tennessee State‑Subdivision Opioid Abatement Agreement: approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 8 — Approve Interlocal Agreement with Town of Pegram for extra law enforcement: approved by roll call (11 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent, 1 Abstain recorded). - Resolution 9 — Defer Photo Speed Enforcement Program until April workshop (to gather traffic‑engineering study information): approved by voice vote. - Resolution 10 — Approve security cameras at EMA buildings (funded by grant + capital): approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 11 — Approve swipe locks at Sycamore Square County offices: approved by roll call (12 Yes, 0 No, 0 Absent). - Resolution 12 — Recognitions: approved by voice vote. - Resolution 13 — Consent calendar (notaries): approved by voice vote. - Resolution 14 — Adjourn: approved by voice vote.

What to watch next: the county will revisit the Photo Speed Enforcement Program at the April workshop after staff gather details on traffic‑engineering studies and legal requirements; the Health Department grant project timeline and disbursement schedule will be administered through the Department of Health and the county’s grant documentation; opioid‑abatement allocation details will be finalized following state‑level implementation of the amended state‑subdivision agreement.

Reporting note: article details rely on motions, roll‑call records and attachments entered into the official meeting packet and read into the record by county staff and commissioners.